Straightening press



July 9, 1929- c. E. LEHR STRAIGHTENING PRESS Filed Feb. 10. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR ATTORNEY 1111)"9, 1929. c. E. LEHR 1,720,083

STRAIGHTENING PRES S Filed Feb. 10. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR Charlas' E Lehi ATTORNEY Patented July 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. Lana, or BETHLNHEM, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIGNon. To BETHLEHEM STEEL COMPANY.

STRAIGHTENING PRESS.

Application filed February My invention relates to a press for straightening metal beams, etc., and particularly to presses of the chaiacter having a relatively fixed ram and a reciprocating ram.

Heretofore, presses of the above type have been usually provided with fiXed iibs projecting beyond the face of each ram and a movable anvil disposed midway between the fixed ribs. The movable anvil is journaled in its respective ram and has a rib shaped portion. The anvil on one of tlie rams 1s moved so that the rib portion projects beyond the fixed ribs on that particular ram, and is thus placed in operative position while the anvil on the other ram is placed in an inoperative position, that is, the rib thereon is disposed back of the plane of the outer faces of the fixed ribs. After the anvils are thus adjusted, a beam is placed in position between the rams, the reciprocating ram is actuated by suitable means, the projecting anvil bears against the beam in a plane between the fixed ribs of the other rain, flexes the beam and thus straightens it. The beam may be straightened in either direction, depending upon which anvil is placed in operative position. A mechanism is usually provided so that 'when one of the anvils is moved to operative position the other will be auto- U niatically moved to an inoperative position.

lith presses of the character described above the anvils have a tendency to creep from their operative position towards their inoperative position; and, if this occurs while straightening a beam, the corner of the bearing rib engages the beam and presses into the material, causing iiidentations in the surface of the beam, and, furthermore, undue stress would thus be imposed on the mechanism for manipulating the anvils owing to the forces reacting obliquely to the normal.

The object of my invention is the provi sion ot a locking device, for positively holding the anvil of a straightening machine in its operative position.

Broadly stated, my invention comprises the combination with a straightening press of a locking device including movable key members which are operated to engage fixed shoulders to positively hold the anvils of the straightening press in their operative position and adapted to be withdrawn out of engagement with said shoulders, when it is desired to change the position of the anvils.

10, 1926. Serial N0. 87,237.

The novel features will be more fully understood from the following description and claims taken with the drawings, in which:

Fig. lis a partial cross section taken through the rams of a beam straightening press, embodying my invention. i'

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the rams showing in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partial longitudinal cross section throughthe locking device embodying my invention.

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on line 4 4 Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a cross section taken on line 5-5 Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the base block for the locking device.

Referring to the drawings 10 represents a portion of a straightening press of a well known type such as is illustrated and described in Letters Patent 844,425 issued to C. L. Taylor under date of Feb. 19, 1907. The drawing does not shown the press in its complete form, as it is not considered to be part of my invention, but only so much thereof has been shown as will suilice to show the connection of my invention therewith. T he base frame 11 of the press has mounted thereon, in suitablev guideways, a relatively Fixed i'am 12 and a reciprocating ram 13.

The rain 13 is connected to pitinen (not shown) by the connecting rods 14. Suit.- able mechanism (not shown) is provided to adjust the ram 12 to a predetermined position relatively to the ram 13.

Each ram is vertically concaved, as at 15, at the center of its inner or working face for the reception of the anvils 16 and 17. respectively. The anvils are journaled at tieir ends in bearings in their respective rams and each is constructed with rear face curved eylindrically which beais directly against its ram, and are provided with forwardly projecting rib portions 18 having flat outer faces for bearing against a beam or article to be straightened.

Each of the iains 12 and 13 is provided on its inner or working face and on opposite sides of its anvil with ribs 19 which project beyond the plane of said face and are disposed parallel to a rib portion 18.

The anvil of each ram is provided near its lower end with a bevel gear 20, which meshes with a similar gear 21 on a sleeve 22. The sleeves 22 are suitably fastened to the rams 12 and 13, respectively, so as to move therewith and both are slidingly mounted on a square shaft 23, although it is to be understood that any form ofpowertransmitting connection between these'parts might be employed so long as relative axial movement is permitted. y

The shaft 23 is rotatably carried by the base frame 11 but is prevented from axial movement and is provided with a pinion 21 meshing with the rack 25 mounted in a suit able slideway formed in the frame. Ashaft 2"1 is disposed parallel to the shaft 23 and is journaled in bearings mounted on the motor base 27. The shaft 26 is lrovided with a pinion 28 which meshes with the rack 25 and is also geared to the reversible motor 2S) through the medium of the reduction gearing 30. Thus it will bc seen that, when the motor is started, the rack will be reciprocated which in turn rotates the shaft 23 through the medium of the pinion 2st.

r1`he anvils being` thus coupled up to the shaft 23 are turned or partly rotated in unison and are so arranged thatwhen one anvil is turned to project its rib outwardly beyond the fixed ribs 19 the other anvil is in its inoperative position. 1f straightening is required on the other side of the beam, the direction of rotation of the motor is reversed, thus turning both anvils and bringing into action the one that was formerly inoperative. The sleeves 22 are free to slide on the shaft 23, thus permitting the latter to actuate the anvils irrespective of the position of either or both rams.

Rollers 31 extend longitudinally of the machine and form a support on which the beam rests while in the machine. After the rams have been adjusted in a manner well known in the art, and assumingthat the anvils are positioned as in Fig. 2, the ram 13 is caused to reciprocate towards the ram 12 and the anvil 17 bearing at one side against the beam in a plane between the fixed ribs 19 mounted on the ram 12 operates to flex the beam to straighten it. 1n order to assure that the flat outwardly disposed face of the anvil 17 engages thesurface of the beam, 1 provide a locking device 32 for positively holding the anvil in its operative position.

The upper ends of the anvils are provided with dovctail slots and nnedly mounted to each anvil is a base block 211 which has a projecting dovetail rib formed on its bottom face to engage the slot 233. The block 34 is bolted to the anvil to prevent relative lateral movement between the parts by suitable means, such as bolts A lateral slot 36 is formed in the upper face of the block. 34 and has slidably mounted therein a vpair of radially reciprocating keys 37. r1`he journals aforementioned which support the anvils, are recessed to receive the 'bushings 138,

cach of which has at its inner' surface a pair of diametrically opposite slots 39, disposed in registry with the keys 37 when the anvil is placed in its operative position. The slot 36 isformed in a block for convenience of manufacture; however, it should be understood that the slot 8G could be formed directly in the anvil. Similarly the slots 39 could be formed in the ram proper instead of providing a separate bushing.

lThe keys 37 are cored out centrally to receive the links 10, which are journaled on the pins' 4:1 mounted in suitable bearings on the keys 37. The links 10, at their other ends, are journaled on a pin 42, which is mounted in suitable bearings at the bifurcated end of the movable rod 13. Each link assemblage constitutes a toggle device for reciprocating the keys in the slot and it is actuated upon movement of a rod 43, the latter being slidingly mounted in a standard all, which is bolted coaxially with a block 3%. it the upper end of each indard is bolted 'an electrically operated solenoid having a core 16 which is recessed and threaded at its lower end, as at 17, to receive the thriaded upper end of its associated rod e3. Normally, the weight of a rod together with that of its cor-e 16, depres: the links, thus urging the keys 37 radially outward against the inner surface of the cylindrical surface 15. lVhen the keys 3? register with the slots 39 they enter the latter and lock the anvil to prevent the rotation thereof.

i"Vhen it is desired to change the position of an anvil the associated solenoid is energized, by means well known in the art, and the core 16 of the solenoid is drawn upwardly, thereby raising the connected rod` 43, which, turn, withdraws keys 37 from slots 3S) so that the anvil is free to be rotated by the means provided for the purpose as heretofore described. liilhile 1' show and describe solenoids for actuating the keys 8i', it should nov ,.'theless, be understood that I may employ other types of suitable means to accomplish this purpose.

It will be seen from the above description that I have devised a locking device rfor positively locking the anvils of a beam straightening press in a predetermined position and that such a device may be easily adapted to existing presses without involving many changes to the press.

lVhile I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modi fications without departing from the spirit thereof, and 1 desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically setforth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

i l. In a straightening machine, the combination, with a ram, bearing means carried by the ram, an anvil rotatably mounted in the bearing means, means to rotate said anvil into operative and into inoperative positions, and means for locking the anvil against rotation in either position.

2. In a straightening machine, the combination, with a pair of rams, bearing means carried by the rams, an anvil rotatably mounted in each bearing means, means to rotate the anvils, and means for locking the anvils against rotation.

3. In a straightening machine, t-he combination, with a pair of rams, bearing means carried by the rams, an anvil rotatably mounted in each bearing means, means to rotate said anvils in unison, and means to lock the anvils against rotation.

4t, In a straightening machine, the combination, with a ram, bearing means carried by the ram, an anvil rotatably mounted in the bearing means, said anvil. being substantially cylindrical in form and having a laterally projecting rib formed longitudinally thereof, said rib being adapted to operatively engage an article to be straightened, means to rotate said anvil from operative to inoperative position, and means for locking the anvil in operative position.

In a straightening machine, the combination, with a ram, bearing means carried by the ram, an anvil rotatably mounted in the bearing means, and a locking device for positively preventing the rotation of said anvil, said locking device comprising an abutment formed on the ram, a key slidingly mounted in the anvil adapted to engage said abutment, and means to move said key.

6. In a straightening machine, the combination, With a ram, bearing means carried by the ram, an anvil rotatably mounted in the bearing means, and a locking device for positively preventing the rotation ot' said anvil, said locking device comprising a pair ot keys slidingly mounted in said anvil, and adapted to register' with slot-s formed in said ram, means to normally urge said keys into engagement with said slots, and means to Withdraw said keys out of engagement with said slots.

'7. In a straightening machine, the combination, with a ram, bearing means carried by the ram, an anvil rotatably mounted in the bearing means, and a locking device for positively preventing the rotation of said anvil, said locking device comprising an abutment 011 the ram, a reciprocating key carried by the anvil and adapted to engage the abutment to prevent the rotation of said anvil, and means to reciprocate said key.

8. In a straightening machine, the combination of a ram, bearing means carried by the ram, an anvil rotatably mounted in the bearing means, and a locking device for the anvil comprising sliding key and abutment, means carried by the ram and anvil, a movable member normally urging said key into engagement with the abutment means, and means 'to move said member.

9.'In a straightening machine, the combination of a ram member, bearing means carried by the ram member, an anvil member rotatably mounted in the bearing means, and locking mechanism for the anvil member comprising a pair ot slidable keys carried by one ot the members, slots provided in the other of said menfbers, toggle mechanism connected to the keys, and means for operating the toggle mechanism.

l0. In a straightening machine, the combination of a ram, bearing means carried by the ram, an anvil journ.4 ed in the bearing means and capable of movement to operative and inoperative positions, means for turning the anvil to either of said positions, said anvil having a slot formed therein transversely to the axis of the bearing means, key means mounted in said slot, said ram having a slot formed therein and adapted to register With the key means in one position of the anvil, a reciprocatory rod member carried by the anvil, and means for transmitting movements of the rod member axially of the anvil into movements of the key means transversely ot the latter.

11. In a straightening machine, the combination ot' a ram, bearing means carried by the ram, an anvil journaled in thc bearing means, means t'or turning said anvil in the bearings to operative and to inoperative posit-ions, means carried by the anvil and provided with a slot disposed transversely of the latter, a pair of aligned keys mounted in the slot, said ram being provided with recesses adapted to register With the keys when the anvil is in operative position, a reciprocatory rod carried by the anvil and movable axially of the latter, means for converting axial movements otl said rod member into transverse movements oi said keys, andv solenoid means for moving said rod member in one direction.

In testimony whereof I hereunto atiix my signature this 2nd day ot' February, 1926.

CHARLES E. LEI-IR. 

